Metal polish and rust remover



Patented Aug. 9, 1938,

r e K s No Drawing.

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a compound for the removal of corrosion and polishing of metal surfaces, as Well as a process for making the same.

It is an object of the invention to provide a corrosion removing material effective upon the variety of metals now commonly encountered.

It is an object to provide an effective polish which is non-injurious to a persons hands when applying the same and which is non-inflammable,

reducing fire hazards and risk of explosions.

A further object is to provide a polishing medium which will permit brightening and polishing of a surface, after removal of corrosion by chemical action and mechanically by frictional application.

Another object is to preserve and maintain the final finish by continuing action of a component of the polish.

It is a further object to permit subsidiary use of the polish as a stain removerfor certain inks and fruit stains susceptible to action of a com.- ponent of the polish.

Y My improved rust remover, polish and stain remover is composed of oxalic acid (HOOCCOOI-IQZHzO) f as the active agent, effective in dissolving corrosion products and for converting certain stains into soluble compounds; tripoli powder (decomposed impure lime-stone; rotten stone; infusorial earth, i. e. microscopic silicious (S102), skeletal of diatoms) as the mechanical polishing agent; oil of mirbane (nitrobenzene CsHsNOz) as the continuingly protective coating of the polished surface and which serves an auxiliary function in the prepared polish by preventing solidification of the oxalic acid and tripoli; and water as the vehicle in which the active agents are suspended or dissolved and which is necessarily present for effective action of the acid.

The procedure in mixing is an important detail of the invention and should be followed as a minimum requirement of time intervals, duringcompounding of the polish.

A formula representative of the invention and which is a preferred embodiment especially suitable for a wide latitude of effectiveness on various metals, while it may be made specifically more efficient for a particular metal by change of proportions is as follows: i

A non-metallic container, earthenware or glass-ware of suitable dimensions, is used to contain 1 gallons of water into which is dissolved, with constant stirring, pound of oxalic acid crystals. When completely dissolved, 3 pounds ETAL POL ISH'AND- RIlST mim'ovnn Oahu}... Q 1 Territory ofll awaii T Application March is, 1937, Serial No. 131,731

, the mixture is allowed to stand for 6 hours, when it is ready for use and may be conveniently bottled with the aid of a glass funnel or other instrument of a material inert to the solution.

When bottling, it is essential that-the tripoli be kept in a homogenous suspension by effective agitation so that each small container may receive its aliquot portion of the batch.

'It is believed essential that the time intervals be the minimum permitted during the mixing, for the effectiveness of the incorporation is a factor of the quality of the polish. It is also believed that the function of the first standing period of 48 hours permits infiltration of the acid solution into the minute pores of the tripoli, which being skeletons of minute vegetation, are minutelyporous and lined, being as high as 125,000 surface lines per inch. The displacement of air and infiltration of air requires time, being probably effected at least partially by solution of the contained air andits diffusion into the solution. Thus, the particles are completely saturated with solution and this serves to conserve the oil of mirbane subsequently added, for this may not then be absorbed into the particles where it would be ineffective, but must be, at most, a surface coating thereon.

The final six hour interval is to permit partial solution of the oil of mirbane and toinsure that it is evenly distributed throughout the batch.

An auxiliary function of the oil of mirbane is that it prevents the tripoli from settling into a hard mass. This may possibly be ascribed to the surface coating of the oil of mirbane on the tripoli particleswhich may prevent minute crystals of oxalic acid from uniting intimately to cement them into a solid mass. An excess of water is normally present and no oxalic acid crystals are desired present, but unusual conditions may prevail in the settled mass of tripoli, with unusual surface effects permitting a cementation action which the oil of mirbane surface coating may thus obviate.

In use, the polish is applied to the surface and let stand a little while until the oxalic acid effects its action on the corrosion products present. Then the surface is rubbed with a cloth, or the like, and the tripoli powder acts mechanically to polish the surface. At the same time the oil of mirbane acts somewhat in removing tarnish and fills the minute pores, seams and fissures of the surface, being retained therein and protecting the surface from further tarnish.

The polish is effective in cleaning and polishing iron, chromium, nickel, aluminum, copper and brass surfaces.

The mixture is effective in removing ink stains, and certain fruit stains, being applied alternately with water in order to react with the'stain and then to dissolve away the products, a final rinsing and washing removing the excess of polishing.

compound entirely.

The polish contains no inflammable constitucut, and the ingredients are so proportioned that customary changes in temperature will not cause crystallization of any ingredient. No precaution need be taken against access of light, as the ingredients are non-volatile and if kept in a container inert to their chemical action will retain its efliciency indefinitely.

I claim:-

As an improvement in the art of manufacturing a cleaning and polishing agent, the herein described method which consists in dissolving oxalic acid in water to which there is added tripoli, agitating the mass, allowing a substantial time interval of quiesence permitting infiltration of the tripoli, after which there is added oil of mirbanepagitating the mass and then allowing a second time interval to permit partial solution of the 'oil of niirbane.

JAMES I. KUSHIMA. 

